It is fitting that I begin with the end in mind. This is a shot from hike number 65 of 2017. I’ve never hiked this much in my life…or, taken as many pictures. This shot was taken at the high point of the Folger Ranch Loop Trail in the newly opened La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve in the mountains of San Mateo County.

My longest hike: La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve – I hiked the Harrington Creek/Folger Ranch Loop for a total of 9.1 miles!

This shot is taken from the top of the long climb up the Harrington Creek Trail to the upper pond. I waited at the top for about 12 hikers who were behind me. One of them slowly passed me at the top and, after stopping to suck in some air, coughed out, “that’s a grinder!” So, there you go, my new name for this section of the trail is, “The Grinder.”

Finally, I became a member of the Volunteer Trail Patrol for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve. I really enjoy meeting and helping hikers, bikers, and equestrians while I’m on the trail. I plan on keeping up this “calling” in 2018!

Phew! 2017 was quite a year for me on the trail.

I completed 65 hikes that totaled 261.6 miles. The total elevation gain for all 65 hikes was 32,997 feet. My average hike was just over 4 miles.

So, what’s in store for 2018? I would definitely like to improve my iPhone and SLR photography. So, look out for more pictures to be posted this year.

I also plan on going after the 52 Hike Challenge and Magnificent Seven hike challenges again. What are the challenges you are going to take on this year? Any suggestions for me?

I’ve also signed up to run my first Spartan Race this upcoming March! This will be my first OCR race! I haven’t done a pull up in 20+ years…so, training for this race should be….interesting!

I can see the finish line. It’s kind of like standing on the trail looking up at the summit. In this picture, the summit is reaching Buzzard’s Roost at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The hike to Buzzard’s Roost is a fairly challenging 5 mile round trip hike with well over 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Like this:

Today’s Thursday Picture was taken on the Sweeney Ridge Trail that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Located on the San Francisco Peninsula, I like hiking here when it is warm in Silicon Valley. I can almost always count on a cool sea breeze here when I hike in the late afternoon. The views of the Pacific Ocean are spectacular!

This was Hike #40 in my 52 Hike Challenge for 2016. I’m up to 49 hikes with just over a week of 2016 left. I better get going!

I consider myself very lucky. I love the outdoors and have so many great places to hike here in Northern California. But, sometimes, I catch my “Engineer Brain” focusing on how many miles I’ve hiked, or which trail to explore on the map.

Occasionally, I catch myself doing too much of this…

When, I should….well, look up.

I completed my 30th hike of the 52 Hike Challenge (see, there is my Engineer brain…LOL!) this past Sunday at California’s first state park. Located only a little over an hour from San Jose/Silicon Valley, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is located in the heart of Redwood Country. It is known for big trees. Really big trees!

Coast Redwoods make their home in many parts of the mountains that surround San Jose/Silicon Valley. I find it to be interesting that a place that focuses so much on the future is surrounded by Coast Redwoods that are anchored in the past. I think that it is a good balance. If you are ever out this way on business or vacation, I strongly urge to take some time to visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park or, Henry Cowell Redwoods Sate Park and….look up.

CORRECTION: Thanks to some sharp eyed readers who are “in the know” about flowers, I believe that the correct name of this flower is a Aquilegia formosa ! Thank you Cindy! Please visit Cindy’s great blog, “Dipper Ranch.” Cindy always has something interesting to read!

Where is Picchetti Ranch OSP? I am going to try something new starting with this post. Because San Jose State University is centrally located in downtown San Jose, I will be referencing all of my hikes with a Google map that shows a distance from SJSU to that location. I’m going to call this section,

“How far from San Jose State?”

Picchetti Ranch OSP is only a short 30 minute drive from San Jose State Universtiy and downtown San Jose.